Scott Dixon revs up for fatherhood

Indy 500 star Scott Dixon and his wife Emma are preparing for parenthood. Photo / Dean Purcell

What do you get an international motor racing champ who has everything?

In the case of Kiwi Indy 500 star Scott Dixon, a private plane, a house in Florida - and a baby.

As Dixon's father Ron says: "He went from all of a sudden not wanting kids to, yeah, it would be nice to have a kid - so why not now? It's typical of Scott. If he wants something, he goes and buys it."

Dixon's wife, former Commonwealth athlete Emma Davies-Dixon, is expecting the baby in July. The couple have not asked doctors whether it is a boy or a girl.

"They made the decision they are not going to find out until baby arrives," Ron told the Herald on Sunday from Florida, where he runs a speedway.

Dixon and Emma returned to the United States from Antigua this week, where they had been celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Emma is showing a bit of a baby bump.

"There's not much of her anyway," laughed Ron, "but apparently she is definitely showing."

Dixon has earned about US$13.4 million ($26.6 million) on the Indycar circuit over the past six years, Herald on Sunday Money reports today.

The couple are said to be buying a new private plane, a twin-turbocharged Cessna 400 billed as "the world's fastest fixed gear plane".

Dixon told the Indycar Series magazine: "In some ways, flying's almost identical to racing, except you aren't competing with anyone."

Dixon's parents have been for the odd spin in the plane he previously owned, an earlier model of the same aircraft.

"It's smaller, but one of the fastest planes around," Ron said.

And, after a taste of sunshine back home in New Zealand, Dixon and his wife have decided they are tired of snowy Indianapolis, where they are currently based.

"I think they have been looking down this way in Florida. Scott's been looking around. I think it'll happen during the season and it will be great because we will be closer to each other.

"He's on top of the world. I mean he is pretty confident for the start of the testing session this year where he has been the quickest straight off. Just a continuation of last year so it looks very, very promising.

"He is all excited about being a dad - and not bad for a kid who was never going to get married or have kids.

"He's doing all of that now so he's really excited about it. He still has an incredibly positive attitude at the moment."

The couple's elevation into the pantheon of internationally recognised celebrities seems, sometimes, surreal.

Said Ron: " You have to shake your head and say, 's**t, is that my son?'

"So having a baby is the icing on the cake."